Monday, July 26, 2010

my July to December list

Last Thursday we found out some big news: a baby boy is on the way! Graham Christopher Luce. I found out a wee bit early, but even so, I am 18 weeks, which means this pregnancy is getting very close to being half way over! Especially since the doctor has already told me he will need to be born several weeks early, due to my past vertical c-section. So we're looking at 4 months before he arrives, and I have a list of "want to's" that feels like it's a mile long to try and complete before then.

Here are some of the heftier items on my ever lengthening list:

1. Potty training Adrienne. If nothing on the list but this got done, I could live with that. It's always been a personal goal of mine to never have more than one child in diapers at a time, and if we can keep the dream alive, I would be a happy mom indeed.

2. Move Adrienne into her big girl bed. She and Marianna have bunk beds and will be sharing a room just as soon as the switch is made. I'm nervous because she is the greatest sleeper on the planet, and I hate to mess with something so good. But it has to be done, and Nathan says now is better than later, so we are looking at the transition taking place sometime in the next few weeks.

3. Establish an everyday routine starting in August. Summer has been fluid, to put it mildly. No two days ever look the same, and routine is something of the distant past. But starting when school starts up, I'd like for us to get on some kind of general schedule, that will include time for chores, school, playing, resting, etc. I'm hoping having this established for several months before the baby comes will make it easier to keep it up after he is here!

4. Finish all Christmas shopping by the last week in November.

5. Plan and implement Graham's nursery!

6. Sew. I haven't sewn in 6 months, and I want to get a few things cranked out for all three of the kids before our little guy gets here.

7. Work on building some age appropriate aspects of independence in each girl. There are a lot of things I do for Adrienne and Marianna that I know they could do for themselves. I do it because I can, but come December, some of those things I'm going to need the girls to take over and do themselves. I figure it's better to get them used to doing it now and ease into it, rather than throw a curve ball at them once the baby arrives.

Will it all get done? I'd be kind of blown away if it did. But I don't see anything wrong with setting the bar high and going for all the gusto. We'll see how it goes but one thing is for sure, come December, whether these things are in place or not, Marianna and Adrienne will be the proud big sisters to a new baby brother. And compared to that, none of the other things will seem all that important.

11 comments:

Our baby boy will be here just a few weeks before yours ( I will be 23 weeks on Thursday). I have a list of goals as well and may I suggest you add one of mine to yours?

Christmas Shopping.

I am working hard to get it knocked out as much as possible before he comes. I just don't think I will feel like doing it while I recover from a c-sec and have a newborn and toddler :) Even if I did it all on the internet, I don't think I will be mentally prepared for that!

Just a suggestion because it has been on my mind lately. I am even going to start wrapping them as I buy them so I don't even have to do that!

Great goals. As a teacher, I definitely encourage parents to help them become as independent as possible. I don't remember reading if you are going to home school Marianna, but if not her teacher would love to have one less to redress after bathroom duty. And one less pair of shoes to tie. Just saying. lolBIG congrats on your baby boy! :)Which picture did you decide to frame?

Congratulations! What wonderful news and boy what a list! Take it one day at a time...like you said, in the end you'll be holding a precious baby boy and all else will fade away and one day...the list will get done. Many blessings!

I am so happy for you Angie:) Your goals are great and I don't think you will have any problems. Potty training can be a bit tricky but doable:) Have a wonderful day sweetie and I can't wait to meet Mr. Graham in December.

Yippie for baby boys! I just had my first boy, after 3 precious little girls. I too, have 2 small girls the same ages as your two girls... we made the switch to sharing a room early as well, and it worked out beautifully. So much easier to do before baby comes. You will be sleep deprived enough as it is! And, seriously, it isn't as easy to be sleep deprived as it was when my oldest was born! I love your name you picked out for him!

Congrats on your baby boy news! I haven't been on my computer as much recently since I became foster mom to two girls at the beginning of June. I have been so blessed by these girls (they are 15 and about to be 3), but they do keep me busy! However, I noticed in my "site meter" that a couple of people entered my page via my "Remembering Poppy Joy" post (http://hornedfrog02.blogspot.com/2008/12/remembering-poppy-joy.html) so I HAD to stop by and say hello (and catch up!)